The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-30
SPORT FOR MIGHTY HUNTERS.
PLENTY OF GAME OF AL KINDS IN
MAINE AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Woodsmcn no Not Spare the Trees, but
Bruiu IL ON Deck Juat the Same.


mountain regions, away from It's old haunts.
but that on the CONTRARY, 1t is a reason for the
bears remaining and increasing In numbers,
flesh, and impudence. The argument OF the
hunters Is that when the woods were thick and
undisturbod by tho axe, tho bears were CON-
PEELED to skirmish more for food. aud had to
depend to a great extent on bark and roots,
and on the rather scanty supplies which the
pig pens and sheep folds Of the scattered sot-
tiers afforded them.
THE cutting away OF the timber" says an
observant and experienced woodsman. q man
who hns surveyed and hunted in the northern
tier Of counties for many years, has naturally
been followed by the appearance OF vast acros
OF various kinds OF berry bushes--huckleberry,
bear berry. and others-the fruit Of which forms
the favorite provonder OF bears and on which
they thrive as on nothing else. And. while
giving way to these prolific and toothsome bear
pastures, the clearing away OF tho trees does
not disturb tho character OF the dense swamps
In tho confines Of which the animals find safe
places for bringing forth and rearing their
young; and tho rocky lodges, with their
rnvines and caverns, still remain as Of
old. and there the bears find win
ter lairs as secure and comfortable as
they were when the forests grew above them.
Bears have solitudes and impenetrable places,
but they don't require that such spots shall be
provided by forests depths. Swamps and rocks
are all they ask, il tho contiguous country only
provides them with such sustenance as they
like OF course. IL cultivated farms take the
will be many and many ayear before the noun,
tain regions Of northern Pennsylvania will
Ssar th put Of
vania counties. as there were nfty years age;
and Nifty years from now thsir descendants VII
acorns, and occasional sheep and pigs just rs
sapeiy and Just as numerous"
mns thought
all reports are that slgns Of bear" were never
more encouraging to the hunter OF that animal
for enjo oyS and md prd a and VIM
ter,s hunting season. The bear is not protected
away VIII hi IN tho hupater
TO employ; but II he Is chasing the bear for its
fuF he vii not hunt in ths sumner m4n1h
c ciiaIl black and glossy specimens are worth WORT,
s to trap tSaa hns
but the sportsman. who. seeks bear
ar pepy ead the % Ree Is
bear hunters outfit is simple. lie wants espe
he r but es shRes
gun that will carry q good charge Of buckshot
s s spo q l HSs S as se b Isl
long bladod knife for emergencies, are sensible
not absolutely essential. ' = 'A'' "''
Dogs are the natural enemies Of bears. A
tas os 1 oosS s 70. a
beyond the opening Of q cave to which Il bear
has been scented and to pitch into a bear that
hfs u for R Ward d aD asa r
II he can prevent an attack in the rear. A fair
blow from 6ears pa PAY will place any dog
though. a bear will make every effort to get
until forced To- but when S he does Il
h H bear with CUBS closely fol-
she is pushed CLOSELY she Mf fne try to
shsW sh viii w show ser sress
teeth, tear tho bark from trees and scatter It
herself as fierce as possible in many Ways. Il
cannot eluds him and get her cubs out OF his
q drop OF blood to shed in defence Of her young
The cubs. meanwhile, will huddle ,ogether a
ousiy as they await the gage OF battle. In
the hnnter Without good dog the trail may lay
the hunter once getting sight OF his coveted
game: The dog harnesses the bear bringing It
mano,uvring until the hunter comes up.
The sportsman who is anxious to be- put to
his his mettIe While bear IT, hunting 6as only to 1T
bear will take a course to follow which will re-
qurie nerve, wind, and a tough skin. When
todons With fight a Of nse and resa
track. however,, thore Is no sport so exciting,
and eyHn an y, an, amateur hunter will find himself
@ ss Kin IN s eas DOS ae dssai
for he will give ali his, attention to the dog;
that are yelping around him, while the hunter
stands Of and sppersS a him IN H Of Lead
f. *hhs 15s@ 20 SsFd III aas 'e he
ab s as ff lively ss % on s hands f as he d sss
well dream Of. No story OF a bear fight that
was over told can be much ahead Of the actual
one. A bear chase is. often a long and tire
some piece of work. for when the game flnds
He will frequently lead his pursuer twenty
Mhere hs brsrs g
the sWamps almost inaccessible to man, while
he will shuttle along with HIS clumsy gait as
In the Coolest weather bears gGS Usually house
themselves In small caves or openings In and
%ns IS Of 6sy dr the
snow. They. usually select the southern face
general belief Is that they, eat nothing while
housed up and that belief is probably correct,
for bears certainly do not store anything for
winter use like the squirrel and raccoon, and as
they seldom move ont OF winter quarters II the
not forage during the cold months. The back
woodsmen believe that bears subsist during
tho winter on nutriment obtained by sucking
their paws. Whether they do or not, It Is a
well-known fact that they 60 into winter quar-
come out In the spring thoy are thin. Their
fur Is very dense and black when they turn in
for the winter. and then Is the time to obtain
bear skins OF the best quality.
Bcnrs Shot Ciose to Villages and Lumber
Cmmps-MooSc, Deer. and Caribou Plenty
and Boid-squirrei Hunts all tho Rage
rickerel Fishermen Having Great l. uck
BANGOR Oct. 2S,-The hunting season in